The National tribune., 1887-03-10
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
THE HOG BOOM.


Perhaps nearly everybody expected good hog
markets in February, but it is probable that
few looked for the full measure of advance in
prices which took place during its first week.
Hogs have certainly been doing all that could
reasonably be expected of them. If the feeling
in cattle were only one.half rs good 1t would
be a vast improvement upon the current tone
Of the market for that kind Of stock. "A great
many Of the packers have withdrawn from the
field in the last few weeks-more than usual ut
this date although 1t is usual for packers to re-
strict operations at this season. Were this not
the case competition in buying would no doubt
have made still better markets. The entire
pork industry seems TO be in unusually good
shape, barring the prevalence of disease in some
parts Of the country; and, as is usually the
case under such circumstances, this will proba-
bly, stimulate increased production by another
Winter. No live stock is so easily and quickly
increased in volume as hogs, and a season OF
good prices is an inevitable precursor of year
of increased breeding. There is no apparent
reason why the present excellent feeling should
not extend into the Spring aud Summer mar
kets, and we are prepared to see hogs continue
for several coming months.
CLOVER PAsTUREs
"Clover leaves the land actually richer in
nitrogen than il was before the seed was sown."
a. The air furnishes no sensible quantity of nj
trogen to crops" These are two statements
which are constantly going around and are
harped on by writers who have just such
smatterng of practical and scientific knowledge
as parrott has Of human language. They re-
peat, without any consideration of the context
or the principles involved, certain statements
made by scientific experimenters in connection
with special circumstances, and take the part
for the whole and for an abstract truth. IL
plants, and clover included, derive no nitrogen
20 any appreciable extent from the atmosphere
and clover leaves the soil richer in nitrogen
than il was before the seed was sOwn, whence,
then, comes this nitrogen which accumulates in
the soill lt must come either from tho air or
the soil. but the quotations above mean that it
comes from neither, and yet the clover gathers
il from somewhere. This is a specimen of the
sloppy kind of science which is retailed TO
farmers by writers who call these misguided
farmers fools. who think and believe that wheat
can change 10 chess under some unfayorable
circumstances, and that cows are often affected
by hollow horn.
BLOODY MILK.
Bloody milk is generally due 10 injury 10 the
udder by violence-as from blow with club
in unmerciful hands or the vicious use Of hoof
or horn of some other brute. Such cases may
occur al any time during the milking season,
and generally occur in only one quarter of the
udder. Again, sometimes bloody milk comes
from weakness OF the mammary glands, and
when thus caused il generally happens soon
after parturition, or in the flush of the milking
season, when the glands are most severely
taxed. The vascular structure of the udder
and the blood vessels passing through il are so
intimately connected that when the tissues of
the udder are much relaxed by debility the
blood itself. instead of only certain of its con-
stituents. exudes through the cspilisries and
passes direct into the milk vessels and mingles
with the milk and comes out with il through
the teats. Wien thus caused blood generally
comes from all the teats. In such cases t0nics
and gentle stimulants are indicated. Gentian
or ginger may be given internally in two-ounce
doses, and the whole bag often bathed in cool
water containing some moderate stimulant las
ginger, mustard or pepper and something as
tringent or tonic las wOrmwOOd). The feed
should be strengthening, but for a time rather
moderate. It is better 10 repress the milk-how
than 10 stimulate il, and 10 this end il is well
10 leave back part of the milk at each milk
ing till the flow is perceptibly diminished.
The aim should be TO strengthen the cow and
her udder and TO avoid weakening by over
working.
NOTES.
March is the most trying month Of the
year on unsheltered stock.
Poor fences indicate scrub stock-so says
correspondent of the Indiana Farmer.
To beautify the plumage Of fowls feed the
seeds Of sunfowers. If these cannot be obtained
give n small quantity Of flaxseed occasionally.
- Experiments show that the native thick
skinned grapes are better Winter keepers than
our improved varieties.
The best place for your wood ashes Is
around your peach trees. The effect may DO
easily noticed the first season after the ashes
shall have been applied.
squash, cucumbers, egg plants melons and
beans should not be planted until all danger OF
frost is over and the ground well warmed.
Nothing is gained by attempting TO force them
| in cool weather.
A prize sheep shearing is TO be held at Sc.
Louis, May ll-l3, 1887. under the auspices of
the Missouri Wool Growers Association. ii.
| &. West. Custom House, st. Louis, Mo-, will send
prize list, etc. on application.